The best traffic-free bike rides in Foresta Del Cansiglio

Passo della Crosetta, located at an altitude of 1,127 meters, is a strategic Alpine pass that connects the Treviso plain, in the municipality of Fregona, to the Cansiglio plateau and the province of Belluno. Nestled in a majestic setting of ancient woods, dominated by beech and fir trees, the pass represents a privileged gateway to one of the most fascinating natural areas in the Veneto region. A very popular destination in every season, it is a reference point for motorcyclists and cyclists who appreciate its scenic hairpin bends, but also an ideal starting point for hikers, ski mountaineers, and trekking enthusiasts heading towards Monte Pizzoc or the Cansiglio plain. At the pass, the presence of the historic refreshment area and rest stops allows for a regenerating break, combining the wild beauty of the mountains with the typical hospitality of the area.

Il Ristoro Crosetta, located at an altitude of 1,118 meters on the homonymous pass that connects the Treviso plain to the Cansiglio plateau, is a historic and unmissable stop for hikers, cyclists, and motorcyclists. This cozy stone and wood structure embodies the quintessence of mountain hospitality, offering a regenerating refuge in every season. The cuisine offers the authentic flavors of the Veneto-Belluno tradition, featuring game dishes, typical Cansiglio cheeses, warm polenta, and fresh mushrooms, all accompanied by homemade desserts and a good glass of local wine. Nestled in a centuries-old beech and fir forest, the establishment boasts a strategic position that makes it the ideal starting point or refreshment stop for exploring the numerous surrounding nature trails, offering an old-world atmosphere for relaxation and good food.

Malga Valmenera is a farm-holiday facility located on the edge of the Piano di Valmenera, one of the three depressions that make up the central part of the Cansiglio Plateau. It occupies part of the western slopes and is surrounded by 74 hectares of meadows used for grazing its own livestock. The malga is open on weekends between September and June, while it remains open every day during July and August. It offers catering services with specialties of the Cimbra cuisine (beef stew, Alpago lamb bake, spit-roasted meat, pastin and grilled cheeses) and products of its own production (cheeses and cured meats). There are also 16 beds available in 7 single or double rooms with private bathrooms. Completely rebuilt in 2017 and transformed into a modern structure, it is owned by Veneto Agricoltura.

Together with Pian Cansiglio and Cornesega, Valmenera is one of the three depressions that make up the central part of the Cansiglio Plateau. The largest in terms of area. This evocative basin is particularly known for its cold microclimate, where record thermal inversions are recorded with temperatures that, in the winter months, can drop to extreme levels. A historical peak was reached in March 2005, when ARPA Veneto analyses recorded a temperature of -35.4°C. Located in the municipal territory of Tambre (BL), it has a wide and flat bottom, called Piano di Valmenera. It represents a typical polje, whose slopes are largely covered by arboreal vegetation; the western slopes, on the other hand, are characterized by meadows, with rather degraded herbaceous vegetation, due to exploitation in the form of mowing and grazing. The dairy farm of the same name, which today operates as a farm stay, is in fact surrounded by 74 hectares of meadows used for grazing its own livestock. Up to here, through the Campon valley, came a tongue of the ancient and vast Piave Glacier. The Piano di Valmenera and part of the basin are part of the "Pian di Landro-Baldassarre" Oriented Nature Reserve.

the charm of this forest and the silence

Part of the itinerary towards Valmanera in winter.

Hangar Cansiglio is a former NATO missile base dating back to the Cold War. The Pian del Cansiglio area was home to the Bianchin Barracks, an air force base with a surface-to-air defense system. It was equipped with American Nike Hercules missiles, which could also carry nuclear warheads. The former bunker, abandoned since 1979, was handed over to Veneto Agricoltura in 2008, the Veneto Region's agency for research and innovation in the primary sector. The idea of converting it into the current environmental and ecological education center was born from the then head of the forestry sector, Paola Berto, and the tenacity of Veneto Agricoltura's sole director, Corrado Callegari. The restoration project, which cost over €600,000, was funded by two regional grants. Seven boilers, containing small asbestos discs, were remediated, and 20 tanks, previously used for diesel and heavy fuel oil, were removed to ensure energy independence in the event of a power outage. Due to current building regulations and the availability of financial resources, approximately 50% of the existing building volume was demolished. This demolition spared the hangars and a bunker, as well as a large warehouse, now used to store Veneto Agricoltura vehicles, which are required for the management of the Forestry Center. The resulting inert material was used to build a parking lot and a camper area a short distance downstream. Hangar Cansiglio, inaugurated on November 9, 2018, was furnished with native Cansiglio beech wood. Its current purpose is dual: a conference center and a small museum on the history of the area, particularly the Cold War. The inscription “Any carelessness can be fatal” served as a permanent warning to the military who guarded the nuclear arsenal.

beautiful forest road, also for gravel